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| HISTORY |
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| The earliest documented information on the history of Adventism in Dominica began with the work of Pastor Phillip Giddings in 1904. Later, Pastor Smith from the United States brought the message to Roseau. |
| Brother John Joseph and family were among the first converts on the island. Soon, a wooden building was erected in Newtown but it was completely destroyed by a hurricane in 1930. After that, the early believers worshipped at the Pottersville home of Bro. John Joseph for many years. Then, under the leadership of Pastor W.A. Lewis, the believers rented Dorsette's Hall and used it for worship. |
| A lot, near the Roseau East bridge, was finally purchased from Mr. Phillip Potter for the erection of a church building. However, the area, which was previously used as a sweet drink factory, had a deep well which needed to be filled up. The believers carried stones from the river but could not completely fill the hole so they allowed the Town Council to use the lot as a garbage dump for a whole year. |
| Eventually, under the leadership of Pastor H. E. Hemple - President of the Leeward Islands Mission - and W.A. Lewis, the Roseau Church was built and dedicated in 1939. During the early seventies the membership began to grow so that the structure became too small to house all those the Lord had called to His fold. So, the Pastor at the time, Pastor Liburd, commenced an addition to the existing facility. All in all, a Baptistery, a Vestry, the Adventist Book Centre and a Lamb Shelter were erected. |
| In the late seventies Pastor George King arrived and started a Primary School in the Lamb Shelter - a portion of the top floor. Soon, the school's enrolment grew and classes had to be conducted in the then existing church building. Then came the historic Hurricane David in 1979. The existing Lamb Shelter was demolished but little damage was done to the 1939 structure. The Church received some compensation from its insurance company and proceeded, under the leadership of Pastor Patrick Thomas, to draw up new plans. These plans were drawn by Bro. Devos Alexander. |
| It was not until 1983, under the leadership of Pastor Lloyd Les Jean, that work began. Through the help of many devoted church members, both home and abroad, the new Roseau SDA Church building was finally finished. Many changes were made over the years. Many Pastors came and left and the membership grew. To God Be The Glory!! |
| While it may not be possible to name everyone who assisted the Church during the years, we have listed some below. May God bless all those who have helped and their families. Bro. Lawrence Didier Bro. Devos Alexander The Dominica Government E.H. Charles & Co. Harris Paints Limited Pastor John Josiah Pastor Lloyd Le Gendre Pastor J.C. Shillingford and St. Croix congregation Pastor Victor Ragoobar Pastor Amreran Williams Pastor Phillip Hozier Pastor Elroy O'Garro Bro. Vivian Alfred Pastor Stephen Patterson Bro. Jean Jacques Bro. M. De Enllerie Maranatha Flights Intl. Bro. Stewart Parris Ezra Fabien Special mention is made of Bro. Jeremiah Fabien for research into and compilation of this history. |